Former Vice President Mike Pence is raising the pressure on President Donald Trump, urging him to hit Vladimir Putin harder and move forward with stronger sanctions against Russia. Pence praised Trump’s leadership in seeking peace but warned that the Kremlin only understands strength.
Pence: Time To Bring Down The Hammer
Appearing on CNN’s State of the Union, Pence said he knows Trump’s negotiating style well after serving alongside him for four years. “It’s the velvet glove,” Pence explained. “But the hammer needs to come down—and it needs to come down now.”
Pence called on Trump to pick up the phone and press Senate Majority Leader John Thune to immediately advance a sanctions bill that already has overwhelming bipartisan support. More than 80 senators, including longtime Trump ally Lindsey Graham, back the legislation.
Trump Charts His Own Path
President Trump has taken a different approach. Rather than rushing new sanctions, he gave Putin an ultimatum: take concrete steps toward peace by August 8 or face devastating tariffs and secondary sanctions.
After a private Kremlin meeting between Putin and Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, the president agreed to hold off on penalties and instead sit down with Putin face-to-face in Alaska on Friday.
Pence warned that Putin may be stalling to buy time and avoid the economic pain of sanctions.
Rubio Defends Trump’s Strategy
Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushed back on critics who accuse Trump of moving too slowly. He argued that rushing sanctions now could cut off the only pathway to peace talks. “You’re essentially saying negotiations are over for the next year or more,” Rubio said on Fox News.
Summit Ends Without Ceasefire
The Alaska summit ended without a ceasefire agreement, but Trump has shifted toward negotiating a broader peace deal. Pence said he was not surprised, pointing out that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had agreed to a ceasefire earlier this year only for Putin to reject it while intensifying attacks on civilians.
“Putin is the bad guy, and he needs to be treated that way,” Pence emphasized.
Trump’s Next Big Meeting
Trump had already warned he would not be “happy” if Putin refused a ceasefire, but he remains determined to push forward with direct talks. On Monday, Trump is scheduled to meet with President Zelensky at the White House.
A coalition of European leaders is also traveling to Washington, though it’s unclear whether they’ll sit in on the White House meeting.
Pence ended his remarks with a hopeful note: “I’m praying this will be a productive and unifying time among all the leaders in the West.”